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Friday, 2 May 2014

What's in my Kitchen, May 2014

In my kitchen is...

Raw nut butter and chocolate cups. I've seen lots of talk about raw desserts so I figured I'd give them a go. I made some raw almond/brazil/cashew nut cups, with cacao topping. They were pretty awesome, even Ellie loved the tiny bites I let her share. I might have to try some other variations now that I know how easy and delicious they are!

In my kitchen is...

Leftover Easter Eggs (and a sneaky homegrown eggplant). There are still a few leftover Easter eggs, which is pretty terrible considering that the only person in our house who got eggs was Ellie. She's not even two yet, so I refuse to let her eat them all... except, I don't particularly want to eat them either, and even Mr Fork has reached saturation point. Any tips for what to make?

Also an aside, but I love this platter/bowl. It was given to me at my own kitchen tea before I got married and I adore it. I always find an excuse to need something stored out on the bench so I can have it on display.

In my kitchen is...

Soups a plenty! We've been the house of sick recently, so soup has been one of our main meals. I know I'm sick when I forget to get photos of food, but we've had some delicious varieties - potato and leek, sweet corn (with chicken and egg added to half for Mr Fork), hot and sour soup loaded with tamarind, noodles and plenty of fresh vegetables.

Potato and leek soup

In my kitchen is...

My first ever home grown pumpkin! I'm not 100% sure what variety this one is as it sprouted from compost I'd spread in the beds (obviously not aged enough) and I nurtured it since. I'm not even sure if I harvested it too early, but since it's the first pumpkin I've ever grown, I'm immensely proud of it. I've got a couple more coming up on the vine, still at tennis ball size, so hopefully they'll stay on and keep me in pumpkin soup for some time!

In my kitchen is...

A batch of delicious smelling apple and cinnamon mini wacky cakes for Ellie (alright, I'll admit the four larger ones on the right are for her mama....). I think what makes them especially appealing right now is that it's currently grey and miserable outside and now the house is redolent with the smell of baking, apples and cinnamon - an extremely potent combination!

I am linking this post in with Fig Jam and Lime Cordial's monthly In My Kitchen event. I know it seems that my kitchen is full of food this month because, well, it is! Cold weather always makes me want to cook, partially because I love the warm stodgy cold weather foods and also because it gives me an excuse to have the oven on and stand near it!

Lisa, I think what you've grown is a Jap pumpkin - we're growing a hybrid version in our yard, and the skin looks just like that. I think they're also known as Kent pumpkins. We use our surplus Easter eggs (not that we had any this year) in a brownie (our version are called butterscotch bars) and one year I baked a whole bag of Haigh's eggs into a tray of them. Your little bowl is absolutely stunning! Hope you're all on the mend soon!

Thanks Celia! I admit that I'm more than a little jealous of your fabulous pumpkin growing! I think that I do need to make brownies... what a stupendous idea (and yet another 'excuse' to 'need' the oven on!). Hopefully we've had our dose of Winter sick for the year now.

Hi Lisa, yep it sure looks like a Jap (otherwise now known, and more politically correct, as a Kent). It does look like you picked it a bit early. Everything I read suggests you wait until the vine is dead before you pick them. If you can't wait that long at least wait until the stem on the pumpkin you are picking is all dried up. My reading also suggests leaving as long a stem on as possible to extend their storage life. Glenda

I am trying to educate my family not to give us Easter eggs as we never eat them. This year's supply went to work with the husband. I love that platter, it is beautiful. I don't blame you for keeping it out.